11 December 2014
Jeswynn Yogaratnam, Member of the national Executive of ACHRE and President of ACHRE NT Chapter won The Fitzgerald Diversity Award for his diverse involvement in NT community, asylum seeker, indigenous and LGBTI human rights. The award was accepted by an ex-asylum seeker, Vino Das, in absentia because Jes was attending the 5th International Human Rights Education Conference in Washington DC. Jes, our best congratulations!
The Award ceremony for “the Fitzgeralds”, the Inaugural NT Human Rights Awards, was held at the Supreme Court in Darwin where commendations and winners in each of the four categories were announced and presented. An emotional and inspiring speech by Carine Kapiamba set the scene for the importance of raising awareness and celebrating United Nations Day for Human Rights Day. As Ms Kapiamba said, “Human Rights are the baseline and also an aspiration.”
Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sally Sievers, who played a major role in organising the awards, which have been named in honour of former Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Tony Fitzgerald, said, “It was a very successful night and we look forward to a bigger and better Awards next year to celebrate the human rights work of those in the Northern Territory community, on 10 December, United Nations Day for Human Rights.”
See ABC link – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-11/nt-human-rights-advocates-honored/5959894
Also see the CDU media link – https://www.cdu.edu.au/newsroom/yogaratnam
The NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner’s media release is available here: Media Release – Human Rights Awards 11 December 2014